Pneumatic-despatch apparatus.



No. 742,517. PATENTED OCT. 27, 1903.

C. P. STODDARD. PNEUMATIC DESPATGH APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1, 1903. H0 MODEL.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

PATENTED OCT. 27, 1903.

0.1". STODDARD. PNEUMATIC DESPATCH APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

CHARLES F.

Patented October 27, 1903.

PATENT. OFFICE.

STODDARD, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN PNEUMATICSERVICE A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

COMPANY, OF DOVER, DELAWARE,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 742,517, dated October27, 1903.

Application filed August 1, 1903.

To all whom it mrty concern.- 7

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. STODDARD, of Boston, in the county ofSufiolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Pneumatic-Despatch Apparatus, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates to improvements in pneumatic despatch apparatus,and especially to a sending-terminal with swinging gates which areinterlocked.

This interlocking device is applied to gravity-transmitters of thecharacter disclosed in United States application, Serial No. 146,555,filed March 6, 1903. In this apparatus there is a diaphragm inconnection with a chamber of the machine and which operates a plungerunder the lower gate. This plunger-is connected to another plunger,which is below the upper gate, by means of a rocker-arm, so that whenthe lower gate is locked the upper one is unlocked, and vice versa.

My invention consists of certain novel features hereinafter described,and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a construction embodyingmy invention, Figure 1 is a section through the sending-terminal withthe parts in their normal positions. Fig. 2 is a detail of the lowerplunger and diaphragm with the exhaust-valve closed. Fig. 3 is a sectionthrough the machine, showing interlocking mechanism reversed and theexhaust-valve open. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the lowerplunger and diaphragm, as shown in Fig. 3.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the severalviews.

A is the transmission-tube, which is supplied with air from the pipe Cthrough the gated T B, which contains openings B.

D is a lower valve-casing, and D a chamber connecting the uppervalve-casing D and the lower valve-casing D. The gate E swings on thecounterbalanced arm E at the point E which armE swings on the shaft EThe upper gate E swings on the counterbalanced arm E at E and thecounterbalanced arm E in turn swings 0n the shaft E Serial No. 167,818.(No model.)

E E are respectively counterbalanced supports for the gates E E.

F is a finger, pivoted at F, and to which is connected the plunger-rod Fat the point F. To the plunger F is fastened the valve-disk E, whichvalve controls the opening F 'F is a spring, which seats the valve-diskF and also returns the finger F to its normal upright position.

'G is the upper plunger, connected to the rocker-arm G at the point GThe rocker- --arm G swings at G on the projection G and to its lower endat G is connected the plunger G, which is fastened by the nut G to thediaphragm J between the plates J J.

' J is a spring tending to hold the plunger G in a position locking thevalve E, Figs. 3, 4., and H is a port connecting'the chamber D on theupper side of the diaphragm J with the chamber'J formed by the plates JJ.

With the parts in their normal position, as shown in Fig. 1, theline-pressure in the transmission-tube A enters the chamber D throughthe port H and the pressure being equal on the gate E said gate remainsclosed and the gate E is held closed by this pressure in the chamber Dand cannot op en, as the cut-away end G' of the plunger G is directlybelow it until the apparatus is operated, as hereinafter described. Theplunger G has also a cutaway end G in which rests the end of the gate E,as shown in Fig. 3, when said gate is held closed by said plunger.

Inoperation a carrier is placed on the scoop D and drops down againstthe finger F, forcing it into the position shown in Fig. 3, which opensthe valve F which valveopens the port F to the atmosphere, therebyspilling the pressure in the chamber D' and in the space above thediaphragm J through the port H. This allows the spring J to force theplunger G up behind the gate E, as shown in Fig. 3. When the plunger Gmoves up, the plunger G, being connected by means of the rocker-arm Gmoves down, thereby un locking the gate E and allowing the carrier byits weight to force the gate E open and pass into the chamber D. As thecarrier passes into the chamber D it allows the finger F to move backinto its normal position,which is shown in Fig. 1. This is accomplishedby means of the spring F pressing against the valve-disk F and raisingthe plunger F The valve-gate E closes after the passage of the carrierby the counterweight E The line-pressure is then established in thechamber D through the port H When the air in the chamber D is raised tothe line-pressure, the diaphragm J is forced down into the positionshown in Fig. 2, which unlocks the gate E and locks the gate E, as shownin Fig. 1. The carrier by its weight then forces the gate E open andpasses into the lineAthrough the gated T B. The gate E then closes bymeans of the counterweight E and the machine is ready to receive anothercarrier.

The object of locking the inner gate E is to prevent a carrier knockingit open against the line-pressure when said carrier drops down againstit, which occurs at every operation. The object of locking the gate E isto prevent it from being opened when the gate E is open or while thereis pressure in the chamber. This is insured by the area of the port Fbeing so small as to be unable to spill pressure in the chamber D whenthe gate E is open. Therefore said pressure will hold the diaphragm Jdown, which holds the plunger G up, thereby locking the gate E, as shownin Fig. 1.

Having thus described the nature of my invention and set forth aconstruction embodying the same, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a pneuniatic-despatch apparatus, a transmission-tube, a senderconnected to said transmission-tube, inner and outer gates normallyclosing said sender, means for normally producing equalization ofpressure in the transmission-tube and the sender, an exhaustport fromsaid sender to the atmosphere normally closed, an exhaust-valvecontrolling said port to allow the pressure to exhaust from the senderfor releasing the transmission-tube pressure on the outer gate to permitthe entrance of a carrier into the sender, means operated by the carrierfor opening said exhaust-valve, means for closing said exhaust-valveafter the entrance of the carrier to permit the pressure in the senderand the transmission-tube to substantially equalize on the inner gatewhereby the weight of the carrier will open said inner gate and enterthe transmission-tube, and mechanism for controlling the opening of saidgates.

2. In a pneumatic-despatch apparatus, a transmission-tube, a senderconnected to said transmission-tube, inner and outer gatesnormallyclosing said sender, means for normally producing equalizationof pressure in the transmission-tn be and the sender, an exhaustportfrom said sender to the atmosphere normally closed, an exhaust-valvecontrolling said port to allow the pressure to exhaust from the senderfor releasing the transmission-tube pressure on the outer gate to permitthe entrance of a carrier into the sender, means operated by the carrierfor opening said exhaust-valve, means for closing said exhaust-valveafter the entrance of the carrier to permit the pressure in the senderand the transmission-tube to substantially equalize on the inner gatewhereby the weight of the carrier will open said inner gate and enterthe transmission-tube and to hold said outer gate closed so that thepressure in the transmission-tube will not escape into the atmosphere,and mechanism for controlling the opening of said gates.

3. In a pneumatic-despatch apparatus, a transmission-tube, a senderconnected to said transmission-tube, inner and outer gates normallyclosing said sender, means for normally producing equalization ofpressure in the transmission-tube and the sender, an exhaustport fromsaid sender to the atmosphere normally closed, an exhaust-valvecontrolling said port to allow the pressure to exhaust from the senderthereby releasing the transmission-tube pressure on the outer gate topermitthe entrance ofacarrierintothesender, means operated by thecarrier for opening said exhaust-valve, a counterweight on saidexhaust-valve for closing the same after the entrance of the carrierthereby permitting the pressure in the sender and the transmission-tubeto substantially equalize on the inner gate, whereby the weight of thecarrier will open said inner gate and enter the transmission-tube, thepressure holding the said outer gate closed so that the air in thetransmission-tube will not escape into the atmosphere, and mechanism forcontrolling the opening of said gates.

4. In a pneumatic-despatch apparatus, a transmission-tube, a senderconnected to said transmission-tube, inner and outer gates normallyclosing said sender, a by-pass for normally producing equalization ofpressure in the transmission-tube and the sender, an exhaust-port fromsaid sender to the atmosphere normally closed, an exhaust-valvecontrolling said port toallow the pressure to exhaust from the senderfor releasing the transmission-tube pressure on the outer gate topermitthe entrance ofacarrierintothesender, means operated by thecarrier for opening said exhaust-valve, a counterweight on saidexhaust-valve for closing the same after the entrance of the carrier topermit the pressure in the transmission tube to substantially equalizeon theinner gate whereby the weight of the carrier will open said innergate and enter the transmission-tube and to hold the said outer gateclosed so that the pressure in the transmission-tube will not escape,and mechanism for controlling the opening of said gates.

5. In a pneumatic-despatch apparatus, a transmission-tube, a senderconnected to said transmission-tube, inner and outer gates normallyclosing said sender, means for normally outer gate.

producing equalization of pressure in the transmission-tube and thesender, an exhaustport from said sender to the atmosphere normallyclosed, an exhaust-valve controlling said port to allow the pressure toexhaust from the sendervfor releasing the transmission-tube pressure onthe outer gate to permit the entrance of a carrier into the sender,means operated by the carrier for opening said exhaust-valve, means forclosing said exhaust-valve after the entrance of the carrier to permitthe pressure in the sender and the transmission-tube to substantiallyequalize on the inner gate whereby the weight of the carrier will opensaid inner gate and enter the transmission-tube, and mechanism fornormally preventing the opening of the 6. In a pneumatic-despatchapparatus, a transmission-tube, a sender connected to saidtransmission-tube, inner and outer gates normally closing said sender,means for normally producing equalization of pressure in thetransmission-tube and the sender, an exhaustport from said sender to theatmosphere normally closed, an exhaust-valve controlling said port toallow the pressure to exhaust from the sender for releasing thetransmission-tube pressure on the outer gate to permit the entrance of acarrier into the sender, means operated by the carrier for opening saidexhaust-valve, means for closing said exhaust-valve after the entranceof the carrier to permit the pressure in the sender and thetransmission-tube to substantially equalize on the inner gate wherebythe weight of the carrier will open said inner'gate and enter thetransmission-tube, and mechanism operated by the pressure in the senderfor normally preventing the opening of the outer gate.

7. In a pneumatic-despatch apparatus, a transmission-tube, a senderconnected to said transmission-tube, inner and outer gates normallyclosing said sender, means for normally producing equalization ofpressure in the transmission-tube and the sender, an exhaustport fromsaid sender to the atmosphere normally closed, an exhaust-valvecontrolling said port to allow the pressure to exhaust from the senderfor releasing the transmission-tube pressure'on the outer gate to permitthe entrance of a carrier into the sender, means operated by the carrierfor opening said exhaust-valve, means for closing said exhaust-valveafter the entrance of the carrier to permit the pressure in the senderand the transmission-tube to substantially equalize on the inner gatewhereby the weight of the carrier will open said inner gate and enterthe transmission-tube, mechanism operated by the pressure in the senderfor normally preventing the opening of the outer gate, and means foroperating said mechanis'm to prevent the opening of the inner gate whilethe pressure in the sender is reduced.

8. In a pneumatic-despatch apparatus, a transmission-tube, a senderconnected to said transmission-tube, inner and outer gates normallyclosing said sender, means for normally producing equalization ofpressure in the transmission-tube and the sender, an exhaustport fromsaid sender to the atmosphere normally closed, an exhaust-valvecontrolling said port to allow the pressure to exhaust from the senderfor releasing the transmission-tube pressure'on the outer gate to permitthe entrance of a carrier into the sender, means operated by the carrierfor opening said exhaust-valve, means for closing said exhaust-valveafter the entrance of the carrier to permit the pressure in the senderand the transmission-tube to substantially equalize on the inner gatewhereby the Weight of the carrier will open said inner gate and enterthe transmission-tube,mechanism consisting of a plunger beneath eachgate connected to a pivoted rocker-arm and a diaphragm connected-to theplunger at the inner gate and adapted to be operated by the pressure inthe sender for moving inward the plunger at the outer gate, and a springfor moving said diaphragm inward with the plunger at the inner gate upona reduction of pressure in the sender. I

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, this 28th day of July, A. D.1903.

CHARLES F. STODDARD.

Witnesses:

-A. L. Mnssnn,

E. L. HARLOW.

